County engineer: Residents should not drive on gravel roads unless ‘absolutely necessary’

Henry County residents should not be on gravel roads unless it is absolutely necessary, said county engineer Jake Hotchkiss.

The county Roads Department has been preparing for one storm after another, and Wednesday was no exception. Henry County received snow and freezing rain Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, with a total accumulation between two and four inches in some places.

'We appreciate the public's patience during this long winter,” Hotchkiss said during a Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 19. 'I do feel like people understand the situation. We're not getting inundated with calls. I think everyone sees us out there working.”

Supervisor Gary See said he recently received a compliment about the Roads Department from a New London resident on their excellent work this year.

Last week, the crews began Saturday, Feb. 9, cleaning up ice on gravel roads. Hotchkiss said they felt like they needed to do a little more cleanup from the week before and rough up the ice for more traction.

They resumed operations Monday, Feb. 11, working on icy gravel roads and hauling more sand before the forecasted afternoon storm.

Tuesday, crews were out from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. working on roads. Temperatures dipped Tuesday night, giving roads better traction Wednesday, Hotchkiss said.

Crews were out Thursday in warmer temperatures, which reached into the 40s. 'Warmer temperatures are our best weapon against ice,” Hotchkiss said.

That night, Hotchkiss said crews were able to 'breathe” with gravel roads in better condition. Friday, they prepared for more weekend snow, servicing vehicles and cleaning plow trucks.

While the Roads Department remains hard at work, Hotchkiss said, 'March makes me feel hopeful.”